The Irish standard., 1887-02-19

| laWleSS OrganlzaLlOn
| But the plan of campaign appears to
have succeeded so wonderfully IN the
object for which it was started as to
frighten English Tories into enactlng
laws, which win fur; her deprive the Irish
people of their liberties, and etface the
last yestige of freedom that has been
left to them. The plan has worked adj
mirablv. It was inaug.rated for the
purpose of affording the poor tenants an
almost impregnable safeguard against
the voracity of the landlords, The
chief promulgators Of the scheme were
fearless John Dillon and courageous
William OBrien. at its inception
they laid down the following rules,
which were to govern the tenants. On
an estate where the people were cour-
ageous ana determined they were ad-
vised to meet together and decide what
was reasonable and fair reduction in
rent to ask. In some cases thirty-hye
or forty per cent. was considered real
sonable; in some cases less, and III
others more. After the the tenants de-
cided upon justitiable and equitable
rent they were admonished to proceed
to their landlord or his representative
and tender this amount, and it the lat
ter refused to accept, a portion OF the
rent which was offered to the landlord
was to be placed in the hands Of trus-
tees. This was to be done privately,
and the moneys thus deposited were to
be used as fund to support the men
who wire to fight the battle and for the
support of the farmers themselves.
This proposition was carried out to
the letter The men who were evicted
have received al allowance from this
fund. The landlords, in no in
stance, have been able, for lack of
means, to successfully fight the battle,
and the consequence is that they now
call upon the Tory Government to sup
press <slawlessness" in Ireland.
The plan, according to the best legal
authority in ireland and the common
sense of the people, is perfectly lawful
and iustifiable, although an effort is
now being made to show that it is
otherwise. It's success is directly at
tributable to the unaninlity Of senti-
ment and, action which prevails
amongst the tenants. All di1erences
were sunk in the one object to prevent
the tribute Of the hard~earned money
which they wrung out OF their land
from being sent across to the wretched
man Who lives i'll London and spends it
in riotous living.
That tbs National League has been
the benefactor Of the Irish tenant far
mer is beyond doubt. Wherever its
policy has been curried out by the peo-
pie with courage and fidelity it has al
ways succeeded in breaking the back of
lanClordism and enabled them to get
tor themselves fi,ir rents.and they
never contended for anything that was
not fair terms fer the lands, and in
putting check on eviction. The result
Of the policy first adopted by the League
in every county III ireland, farms from
which their rghtful owners have been
cast out upon the roadside, and which
in the past WOull! have been instantly
let TO ouher men who would have come
forward and perhaps offered the same
or an increased rent. But to-day these
farms are as if they lay under 8 curse,
DC man seeming to have the courage or
the Inclination to put his foot On them.
OF course the landlords advance RS al
argument against the Land League
that it has condemned many farm III
ireland to lay idle and uncultivated
that in this past Nolld have been easily
taken. but i'll this argument we find the
salvation OF the people. Wherever III
the neighborhood Of landlord. or
agent, Of an eyicting turn OF mind,
there is one, two Or three farms from
which the tenants have been evicted,
and which no man dared to take, it en-
abled the remaining tenants TO deal
with their landlords Or agents On
much more liberal terms !; because he
knew il he put them out he could get no
man TO step into their shoes--he knew
that if he put them out he could get no
rent at all--ana very often he was glad
to come to reasonable terms.
But the National League scarcely
filled the bill, although it Was partially
successful: il remained fer Messrs.
Dillon and O'Brien to step into The
breach with their plan Of campaign,
embodying policy which has proved
itself effective. The men who origin
ated the plan are now on trial, charged
with conspiracy. Whether they will be
convicted or not is another thing. Ger
tainly no unpreJudiced, intelligent jury
would convict men of conspiracy or
|Iawlessness" who are endeavoring to
secure eyen-hande1 justice for their
fellow -countrymen without violating
any written law.